David Moyes exclusive: West Ham boss on style critics - 'I do actually consider myself as an attacking manager'

David Moyes has responded to those who criticise his playing style, with the West Ham boss insisting that he is "an attacking manager".

The Glasgow native has established himself as one of the club's most successful managers, leading The Hammers to their first piece of major silverware in 43 years with victory over Fiorentina in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023.

And yet Moyes has faced considerable pressure at times during his tenure and was forced to defend his record after a crushing 6-0 loss to Arsenal in February and again a week later following defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The 60-year-old has also been accused of being negative and cautious in the way he sets up his team. But in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, that is a notion Moyes was keen to address.

He said: "I do actually consider myself as an attacking manager.

"It just happens that I normally have a really good structure, I try to be organised, always have been throughout all my teams. I’ve learnt an awful lot from seeing some other great managers’ work. But there’s a style that suits me and a style that tends to get me results and gets the clubs I’ve managed results.

"It’s not happened all the time, but overall I have to say that I’ve always wanted to attack, I don’t think we’ve done it any other way."

Moyes, who has guided West Ham to a third successive continental quarter-final having made the last eight of this year's UEFA Europa League, continued: "Obviously the level of players we have will dictate when we can and when we can’t [attack].

"I actually think of it a different way, I think there’s a naivety if you think you can be hugely attacking against some of the better sides because there is a naivety to that itself as a coach.

"We’ve got some brilliant young coaches, people who have great ideas, great innovations, but that doesn't mean to say because we come from a different sort of era that we don't evolve ourselves. To be in management I think you have to continue evolving, looking to see what you can do different."

West Ham have turned on the style under Moyes, perhaps most memorably in the 5-0 second-leg victory over SC Freiburg earlier in March.

Mohammed Kudus' sensational solo run and finish capped a fine night at the London Stadium after Lucas Paqueta gave the hosts the lead.

The influence of two such exciting attacking players has helped to light up east London this season and Moyes puts them in the same bracket as 'mavericks' and former players Paolo Di Canio and Dimitri Payet.

"West Ham have always had really exciting players," he said. "Payet, Di Canio. They've been known for having mavericks, people who excite supporters. I think Mohammed and Lucas are two players who come into that category.

"But what we're trying to do is have a real team ethic here where everyone's consistent, everybody works for each other, nobody has a greater level than anyone else. Everybody does the work together and we accept that.

"But sometimes you need to give these players the opportunities to show what they can do. Maybe they don't always do exactly what you want but that's what makes them different, maybe makes them a little bit more special.

"So there's a bit of leeway for them, and thankfully I think the players have bought it, and we enjoy having them here, they're both incredibly talented players."

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